ZvP Help Against 3 and 5 zealot timing

So If I'm doing the 3 hatch spire 5 hatch hydra build, I assume that when Protoss sends between 1-5 zealots as soon as he gets them, I do not build sunkens and should just defend with zerglings (getting speed upgrade after lair). How many zerglings do I need to make against 5 zealots? It seems 12 isn't enough. Maybe 16?

If you think about it, 12 zerglings are only the price of 3 zealots so it would make sense that they get rolled over by 5.

IMO 4 lings for every zealot you expect is a good amount to keep you safe if you're not relying on a sunken. If you're a newer player. You should also be trying to micro them optimally by...

1. Only engaging if you can get surrounds on them (3-4 lings attacking them at a time.2. Try pulling apart the formation of the zealots to isolate 1 at a time and surround them. Subpar path finding is your friend as a Zerg player.3. Pull back damaged lings if possible (after they've been hit twice), but this is too difficult to do consistently.4. If they're in your base, wait for them to start attacking buildings and dance in to attack them, dancing out when they turn around to try attacking you.

This question is wrong imho, it's something you need to 'feel' in game, you can't make such plans or you'll lose a lot. The game isn't that schematic.

You need to have a feeling of how many units you need vs what your opponent has. It's only acquired from experience, lot's of factors can change this, unit placement, what's going on in game, what you play, etc.

It's gonna come with experience, you'll make 12 lings, and then you'll find zealots well positioned and it's will not be enough.

On the level when you wonder whether 12 or 16 lings is enough - it doesn't matter for you, make 20. By the time it will matter, you'll already have the experience to know.

Usually 3 lings per zealot are doing the job. Against Bisu you might need 5. Check his zealot count to know how many to have when he arrives to defend. Also check if he splits to harass different places to send lings accordingly. If you leave your base with lings, check unusual paths to prevent a lone zealot reaching your precious undefended drones. Have in mind that sometimes protosses go for FE and then 2 barracks before gas/core which results in a lot more zealots.

edit: unless you're planning to attack him right after killing his zealots (he will not come out if he scouts high ling count).More lings = less drones

Isnt adding a sunken also removing a drone that you already have? Also it's too early to be making static defense against 5 zealots right?

Losing a drone that mined money is a net gain compared to if you made a zergling that mined no money. Assuming the sunken is at least as worth as the zergling, which I suppose depends on its intended function on the field.

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edit: unless you're planning to attack him right after killing his zealots (he will not come out if he scouts high ling count).More lings = less drones

Isnt adding a sunken also removing a drone that you already have? Also it's too early to be making static defense against 5 zealots right?

Well, it really depends on the protoss' build, I'm expecting you're talking about some sort of FE but there are many variations of it as well.I think that without a sunken you generally end up spending more larvae than you would with combination of less zerglings+ a sunken. Remember, that drones are there to help defending as well.

If you scout fast +1, then I'd definetly suggest doing the sunken, since if protoss sees your're massing lings, he can just delay his push untill his +1 is ready and instead of 5 zealots he will come out with 8+ zealots that will each 2-hit a ling.You can delay the sunken morph untill you see his zealots walking towards your base.

If you don't scout +1 and want to skip the sunken, then the 16 speedlings should be enough vs 5 un-upgraded zealots.

if you play 3 hatch spire on 3 base against FFE, 1 gate expo or FFE then 2 gates before tech, you never make a sunken when fighting against up to 5 zealots. the amount of lings you need depends on both players micro and what outcome you want.